Predators defenseman Shea Weber has eight goals and 21 assists in 35 games this season.

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The NHL's concussion epidemic among star players this season continued Tuesday with news that Nashville's captain had been struck with a head injury. The Predators officially announced that Weber, their leading scorer and highest-paid player, had a concussion.

General manager David Poile and coach Barry Trotz were cautiously optimistic that Weber would be back for Friday's game at St. Louis, but wouldn't put a timetable on his return.

"There's a chance for Friday," Trotz said. "He is recovering pretty well I would say, but nothing is for sure."

Weber, who has been ruled out of Wednesday's game against the Wild at Bridgestone Arena, was not available for comment to reporters on Tuesday.

The Predators said Weber suffered the concussion close to the end of last Friday's game at Dallas, when Stars defenseman Mark Fistric slammed into him high, with his arm near Weber's head.

Weber appeared fine after the game as he spoke with reporters before the NHL's two-day Christmas break. Then on Monday at the morning skate before the game against the Red Wings, he realized something was off. Weber left the ice early and later was scratched from the lineup.

Weber appeared OK before the skate, teammates said. Ryan Suter sits next to Weber in the locker room and didn't notice any issue with his defense partner.

"He seemed fine. On the plane he was fine, and yesterday, I guess he wasn't feeling well," Suter said. "We were laughing and joking and everything was good, and when he got out there, not so much."

Forward Jerred Smithson, who rooms with Weber on the road, said he saw him in the team facility on Tuesday.

"When I saw him this morning he said he felt pretty good, but I've dealt with those things too, and you do feel good one day and the next day maybe not so much," Smithson said. "With him, you have to take it day by day, and he's the kind of guy when he gets the opportunity, he'll be back. He won't wait too long."

Weber's concussion history is unknown. According to the website tsn.ca, which monitors players injuries and time missed, his longest time missed was 17 games in 2007-08 with a dislocated kneecap. In 2006-07, he missed three games with a jaw injury.

Weber's concussion continues the rash of head injuries among elite players players this season.

Crosby returned to the Penguins after 11 months off from a concussion and played eight games before he was sidelined again with a similar issue. Pronger, captain of the Flyers, is out for the season with severe post-concussion syndrome.

Giroux, the Flyers' leading scorer, missed four games this season with a concussion. Miller, the Sabres goaltender, missed eight games earlier this season with a concussion.

Fistric was suspended three games in early December for a hit on Islanders forward Nino Niederreiter. According to the NHL, the replay of Fistric's hit on Weber wasn't clear enough, and the referee who was in position didn't deem the hit worthy of a penalty at the time.

"In the old days, guys would kind of maybe let up a little bit on the star guys, but not anymore," Predators forward Mike Fisher said. "Webby's hit, he didn't have the puck and he wasn't looking. … I thought (the NHL) should have looked at it. You don't need to hit a guy like that."

The Predators have some experience with concussions.

Defenseman Francis Bouillon missed 44 games from last season into this season as he recovered from a concussion. Former Predators forward Matthew Lombardi missed 80 games after he suffered a concussion in the second game of the season last year.

"Now we're more precautious with stuff like that," Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said. "It's not good for the game when you're missing the best players in the world, but at the same time their health is the most important thing in life, and you have to be extremely smart and careful of that."

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